The matchup between Gable Steveson and Alexander Romanov will serve as the main event for Real American Freestyle 09 in Dallas on May 30. This represents a significant booking for the promotion featuring the Olympic gold medalist wrestler Steveson. The same card will also feature a bout between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman, adding considerable star power to the event. RAF09 appears to be building a card centered around high-profile names from the MMA world. Further undercard details were not provided in this announcement.
Real American Freestyle 09 has its main event locked in, with Alexander Romanov set to face Gable Steveson at the top of the card when the promotion touches down in Dallas on May 30.
Romanov, known as "King Kong," carries a 19-3-0 record and stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. The 34-year-old represents Moldova and brings a notable striking accuracy of 75 percent into the contest. Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist wrestler, is positioned as the marquee attraction for the promotion, though his verified professional record was not listed in the announcement database.
The card also features a matchup between Colby Covington and Chris Weidman, two well-established names that add considerable weight to the event's billing. Covington, nicknamed "Chaos," holds a 17-5-0 record and fights out of MMA Masters. The 38-year-old American stands five-foot-eleven with a 72-inch reach and lands 3.81 significant strikes per minute, backing that output with 3.64 takedowns per 15 minutes — a profile that makes him dangerous in multiple areas. Weidman, the 42-year-old "All-American" from the Serra-Longo Fight Team, enters with a 16-8-0 record. Standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, the orthodox veteran averages 3.11 significant strikes per minute and 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes, reflecting his well-rounded game built on wrestling and punching power.
Why it matters
- Steveson's Olympic pedigree makes him an immediate draw and tests RAF's heavyweight depth
- Romanov's 19-3-0 record makes him a credible opponent rather than a showcase opponent
- Covington versus Weidman is a veteran welterweight-to-middleweight collision with name value that anchors the undercard
- The combined star power of all four fighters signals RAF09 is targeting a mainstream MMA audience in a major market
